Rapist sent to jail for 18 years

A man has been jailed for 18 years for raping two girls in the 1970s - including a 14-year-old on his wedding night.

William Jordan, 59, of Greyhound Road, west London, was sentenced at the Old Bailey after being found guilty of that rape as well as regularly raping his family's babysitter, Scotland Yard said.

The court heard how the 14-year-old was raped by Jordan after his own wedding reception in 1973 as she slept in a bed in the home of a family friend.

Jordan attacked her as his new wife slept next door. The victim did not tell anyone about this attack until she was contacted by police investigating linked historic abuse some 40 years later.

Police were able to gain her confidence and she provided a compelling account of the abuse received at the hands of Jordan, police said.

The second victim, an 11-year-old girl, worked as a babysitter in Jordan's house in Hammersmith between 1977-1979.

She began babysitting for Jordan when she was around 10-years-old.

After about an hour, Jordan would return from the pub and if the children were asleep, he would rape her.

He would then leave to return to his wife. This happened on more than one occasion whenever she babysat, police said.

Detective Inspector Tim Wilkinson of the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, said: "This conviction sends out a very strong and positive message to Londoners that those who commit serious offences will be brought to justice without the passing of time being a barrier.

"I would like to pay tribute to the bravery of the victims who found the strength to give evidence in court. We know that only a proportion of rape victims report to police, I hope that this conviction encourages other victims of rape to come forward."